Extension-table.



No. 827,944. PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

F. J. & J. T. SENG.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLIOATION rmm MAR. 2. 1904.

l1/mentore;

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK J. sENG AND JULIUS T. sENG, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNORs To THE sENe COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7,1906.

T0 a/ZZ wiz/0m, t may concern,.-

Be it known that we, FRANK J. SENG and JULIUs T. SENG, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in extension-tables of that class employing a central divided or sectional pedestal designed to separate when the table is opened or extended and to close together and encompass a center leg when the table is closed.

The main objects, therefore, of our invention are to produce a very simple and inexpensive device capable of being applied to the ordinary pedestal extension-table without- Inarring the same, which is adapted for automatic operation simply by the act of opening and closing the table and which will effectually close and lock the pedestal-sections thereof, so as to practically eliminate the unsightly crack when the table is closed and liberate or unlock the sections by the simple act of extending or opening the table.

Other though minor objects of our invention will hereinafter appear, and the invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter referred to, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of an ordinary pedestal extensiontable embodying a locking device in accordance with our invention, the pedestal-sections being shown as locked. Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts broken away, the pedestals being shown as unlocked and in the act of approaching. y

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in both the figures of the drawings.

rlhe pedestal extension-table represented in the drawings is of the conventional'construction, and therefore comprises the two separable top sections 1 1, the slides-2, the cross-piece or bridge 3, the supporting center leg 4, secured to thc latter, and the pedestal-sections 5 5.

Securing-plates 6 may be located at diametrically opposite points on the center leg 4, and such securing-plates may be produced in any ordinary manner, but preferably as shown in the drawings, wherein, as will be observed, the securing-plates 6 are produced by extending and llapping the terminals of a divided band 7, the latter encircling the table-leg at a convenient point and secured rigidly in position by means of screws 8. The band is preferred in that it does not mar the center leg and requires no cutting away of the same for its accommodation.

The lower outer corn er of each of the secur- 15 designates a pair of engaging'eyes, and.

the latter may be formed of angle-iron, the

upper branches being employed as securing-l plates and the lower branches provided with openings forming eyes. These plates are arranged diametrically opposite each other, one upon each of the pedestal-sections, and are immediately below and in the path of the lower ends of the latches 11, the said lower ends of the latter being preferably beveled at those sides adjacent the eyes, so as to facilitate said ends in entering said eyes. Above the eyes 15 and in line therewith is located a pair of striker-plates 16, the same being arranged in the path of the upper ends of the levers 13 and adapted to contact with and impinge against the upper ends of said levers when the pedestal-sections are brought together and slightly before their meeting edges contact. v

Light coiled springs 17 may be employed between the levers 13 and the latches 11 for the purpose of maintaining the same at a relatively proper angle when not otherwise influenced and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Of course the springs may be omitted and certain of the parts weighted to accomplish the same result. f

The operation of the deviceA will be apparent and may be briefly described as follows: Assuming the table to be in the position. shown in Fig. 2, wherein the edestals are approaching each other as in t e act of closing, it will be seen that the striker-plates 16, mov- IOO ing Withthe pedestals, contact with the upper free ends of the levers 13. This causes the upper ends of the levers to be forced inward or toward each other, and their opposite ends bemg pivoted to the upper ends of the latches will cause the latter at their lower ends to swing down, whereby they are caused to en-v gage the eyes 15, and inward so as to serve to draw the pedestal-sections snugly together.

When in this latter position, the levers 13 and*A and, as a matter of fact, said pedestal-sece 'tions remain securely locked, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. `1 'of the draw-' ings.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure` by Letyters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a pedestal extension-table, comprising a central "leg and lopposite pedestalsections, of securingeplatesv located at opposite sides of the leg, latches loosely secured thereto and extending down` 'p wardlyfand outwardly therefrom, levers ful-V 3O- crumeclon the'plates and beyond their ful crums pivotally connected to the latches and at theirupper free ends extending outwardly into the paths ofthe pedestal-sections and adapted to bev struck and operated thereby when the pedestal-sections nearly reach a closed position," and eyesarranged on the 'y pedestal-sectionsl in line with the lower free ends ofthe latchesand adapted to receive said bends when the latches are operated as described.

2'. The combination, in a pedestal extension-table, comprising a central leg and opp osite pedestal-sections, of securing-#plates located at opposite sides of the leg, latches loosely secured thereto and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, levers fulcrumed on the plates and beyond their fulcrums pivotally connected to the latches and at their upper free ends extending outwardly into the paths of the pedestal-sections and adapted to be struck and operated thereby when the pedestal-sections nearly reach la closed position, and eyes arranged on the pedestal-sections in line with the lower free ends of the latches and adapted to receive said ends when the latches are operated as described, striker plates lcarried by the pedestalsections, and springs for returningr the latches and levers to their normal positions after a separation of the pedestal-sections.

8. The combination, in a pedestal extension-table, of opposite securingplates locatedl at the sides of the central leg and provided with slots, pins working in the slots, latches fulcrumed between their ends upon the pins and suspended in an inclined position therefrom and terminating in beveled ends, operating-levers intermediately fulcrurned on the plates andat their inner ends pivotedA to those of the latches, springs for normally retaining the latches and levers at an'angle to each other, opposite striker-plates carried bythe pedestal-sections and adapted t'o contact with the-free ends of the levers, and eyes located on the' pedestal-sections and in line-with the lower free ends of the latches and adapted to receive the same when lowered and swung inward by the levers.-

ln testimony whereof we have signed our names to` this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK J. SENG. JULIUS T. SENG.

Witnesses:

E. J. SCHAGER, GERARD J. BIEHL. 

